Global 08/22/13 nytimes.com: by Carl Zimmer – Evolutionary biologists have come to recognize humans as a tremendous evolutionary force. In hospitals, we drive the evolution of resistant bacteria by giving patients antibiotics. In the oceans, we drive the evolution of small-bodied fish by catching the big ones. In a new study, a University of Minnesota biologist, Emilie C. Snell-Rood, offers evidence suggesting we may be driving evolution in a more surprising way. As we alter the places where animals live, we may be fueling the evolution of bigger brains. Dr. Snell-Rood bases her conclusion on a collection of mammal skulls kept at the Bell Museum of Natural History at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Snell-Rood picked out 10 species to study, including mice, shrews, bats and gophers. She selected dozens of individual skulls that were collected as far back as a century ago. An undergraduate student named Naomi Wick measured the dimensions of the skulls, making it possible to estimate the size of their brains.

Dr. Emilie Snell-Rood

Two important results emerged from their research. In two species — the white-footed mouse and the meadow vole — the brains of animals from cities or suburbs were about 6 percent bigger than the brains of animals collected from farms or other rural areas. Dr. Snell-Rood concludes that when these species moved to cities and towns, their brains became significantly bigger. Dr. Snell-Rood and Ms. Wick also found that in rural parts of Minnesota, two species of shrews and two species of bats experienced an increase in brain size as well. Dr. Snell-Rood proposes that the brains of all six species have gotten bigger because humans have radically changed Minnesota. Where there were once pristine forests and prairies, there are now cities and farms. In this disrupted environment, animals that were better at learning new things were more likely to survive and have offspring. – For complete article see http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/22/science/as-humans-change-landscape-brains-of-some-animals-change-too.html?emc=edit_tnt_20130822&tntemail0=y

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) & West Nile Virus (WNV):

Connecticut 08/21/13 CT DEEP: Officials have announced that two campgrounds inthePachaug State Foresthave been closed until further notice after mosquitoes trapped at the parks tested positive for EEE. The decision to close the Mt. Misery campground and the nearby Horse Camp also known as the Frog Hollow Horse Camp, was made in consultation with the CAES and the Department of Public Health (DPH). – For complete news release see http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?Q=530620&A=4380

Massachusetts 08/21/13 MA Dept of Health: DPH officials today announced that it has advanced its ongoing epidemiological investigation of a previously announced human case of EEE in a Norfolk County resident and as a result has raised the EEE risk level to “High” in Hanover, Hanson, Rockland, Weymouth, and Whitman. DPH urges communities designated as “High” to curtail planned evening outdoor events for the remainder of the mosquito season. – See http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/newsroom/press-releases/dph/eee-risk-level-raised-to-high-in-five-communities.html

New York 08/20/13 NY Dept of Health: State officials have announced that EEE has been identified in fifteen (15) pools of mosquitoes in both Oswego (5) and Chautauqua (10) counties. Two human cases of WNV have been identified in New York City (Staten Island, NY) and one case has been identified in a horse in OneidaCounty. The state’s mosquito surveillance program has also identified mosquitoes with WNV in several counties, including Chautauqua, Erie, Madison, Nassau, Onondaga, Oswego, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester, as well as New York City. – See http://www.health.ny.gov/press/releases/2013/2013-08-20_precautions_against_mosquitoes.htm

South Dakota 08/20/13 SD Dept of Health: State officials have confirmed that a TurnerCounty resident in the 70 to 79 age group is the state’s first WNV-related fatality this year. Fifty-two human cases of WNV have been reported in the following counties: Brown 12, Beadle 4, Brookings 4, Spink 4, Hughes 3, Buffalo 2, Codington 2, Day 2, Minnehaha 2, and 1 case in each of the following counties Brule, Clark, Corson, Dewey, Edmunds, Faulk, Jones, Lincoln, Lyman, Marshall, Meade, Mellette, Moody, Sanborn, Tripp, Turner, and Walworth. – See http://doh.sd.gov/documents/diseases/infectious/WNVupdate.pdf

Join us on World Rabies Day, Saturday, September 28 for the Sixth Annual Merial Rabies Symposium! This interactive symposium brings together veterinary students, veterinarians, public health and medical experts in a discussion about the continued threat of rabies worldwide. This event is an opportunity to hear from some of the top experts in rabies, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Global Alliance for Rabies Control and various other state and local authorities. This year’s Merial Rabies Symposium, themed “Protecting Animals, People and Our Future,” will allow veterinary students and a diverse group of public health and veterinary experts to explore successes and challenges in rabies prevention on both local and global scales. The event will feature interactive breakout sessions for attendees to discuss rabies cases and management from the veterinary, public health and human health perspectives. – For more information see http://www.eventbrite.com/event/6708516353?utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=new_eventv2&utm_term=eventname_text

Jerry Genesio

Author of "UNSEEN HAZARDS That Threaten Hunters, Campers, and Hikers: What you should know about pathogens commonly found in wildlife."

This is where wildlife and healthcare professionals, hunters, campers, hikers, anglers, and other outdoor enthusiasts will find interesting information about natural unseen hazards that place them at risk. As my book focused exclusively on Rabies, Tetanus (Lockjaw), Tularemia (Rabbit Fever), Brucellosis (Undulant Fever), Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Borrelia (Lyme Disease), posts regarding these six diseases will be limited to more recent developments and items of interest that were not included or were not available when the book was published in June of 2009. Topics will also include Chronic Wasting Disease, West Nile Virus, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, and other diseases of particular interest to those who work and play in the great American outdoors.

Don’t Be Afraid – Be Aware!

The Natural Unseen Hazards blog is available to all free of charge and is maintained as a public service.

If you have questions related to pathogens commonly found in wildlife, e.g. the disease caused by a specific pathogen, hosts, vectors, symptoms, treatment, territorial range, etc., please comment here or e-mail to jerrygenesio@gmail.com and I will attempt to provide answers.

"Chance favors the prepared mind."
Louis Pasteur

Unless otherwise noted, images have been provided by the CDC Public Health Image Library, Wikimedia Commons, the National Park Service or other government agencies, Bing.com, and/or Google.com.

"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less."
Marie Curie

"It's better to look ahead and prepare, than to look back and regret."
Jackie Joyner Kersee